Syracuse, N.Y. -- An overwhelming majority of syracuse.com readers believe nurse practitioners should be allowed to practice more independently of doctors, according to an unscientific poll conducted Tuesday.

A total of 1,078 votes were cast in the poll. Of those, 73.38 percent were in favor of giving nurse practitioners more independence, while 15.86 percent were opposed. Another 7.88 percent of voters said they were "leaning towards" giving nurse practitioners more independence, while 1.58 percent said they were "leaning against" the idea. Only 1.3 percent of voters said they were undecided.

The poll was published in conjunction with a story about proposed legislation in Albany that would eliminate a state requirement that makes experienced nurse practitioners get a written practice agreement with a doctor before they can practice.

Proponents says it's important to give nurse practitioners more freedom because there are not enough doctors to care for the growing number of people getting health insurance through Obamacare.

Opponents of the bill say nurses do not have enough training to practice on their own.

You can contact health writer James T. Mulder at jmulder@syracuse.com or (315) 470-2245. Follow him on Twitter @JamesTMulder.